McHenry hears wish list of $100 million in projects

McHENRY – City administrators presented a wish list of more than $100 million in capital improvement projects Monday for the next five fiscal years.

The 68 projects far exceed the city’s anticipated financial resources, so the wish list is meant to serve as a budgetary guide, said McHenry City Administrator Derik Morefield.

“It allows for the annual evaluation, prioritization, and scheduling of projects via a uniform, consistent, and objective process,” Morefield wrote in a memo summing up the fiscal 2013 to 2018 plan.

City Council members said the projects are necessary, even if the city lacks resources to pay for them. Alderman Andy Glab pushed for better enforcement of city vehicle fees.

“We could almost double out city revenues if we enforced it,” Glab said. “[Some residents] are irritated at paying it only because they know there are people who aren’t.”

The capital improvements plan includes “status updates” of budgeted projects. This year, 20 projects totaling $6.8 million were approved, budgeted and scheduled for completion in April. State and federal funding covered $2 million of the $6.8 million.

“Projects identified for implementation in [the capital improvement plan] may be modified, moved up, pushed out to successive years, or deleted entirely,” Morefield said.

“Additionally, and most importantly, the actual inclusion of projects in any capital budget year is dependent upon the availability of funds and the priority of the project within the community.”